I have a large(Magnolia) tree stump about 3 ft in diameter) I need to remove. I know I can rent a stump grinker from Home Depot and can chop it up with a chain saw. Are there any products I can buy to do the job? I'm thinking about cutting out a hole in the center and planting something to slowly eat the wood(can't use explosives, because it's in front of the house, 3 feet away from the street and sidewalk). Any suggestions?

For smaller trees (less than 2 feet in diameter) we usually just dig around the stump and cut the exposed roots continuing until we can rock the stump to get at the tap root but for trees larger that 2 ft diameter hiring someone with a stump grinder is definitely the way to go. Good luck,

If you were willing to plant something in the center while it slowly rots away, I'm guessing you're in no hurry.... It's a slower method, but you can drill holes into the top of the stump using a 1" boring/spade bit, and then fill them with a stump remover chemical (Home Depot carries one by Spectracide), that essentially simulates rot. Eventually the stump will dissolve enough that you can pull hunks of it out, and fill in with dirt/cover with sod.

I've read about pioneers who would dig all around the edges 5 or 6 inches inches below the ground level of the stump and then pile brush, downed limbs and burnable scrapwood on top for a bonfire. I've done this in my yard a number of times and it works fine, but is obviously not as fast as a grinder.

You have to get a really hot fire going for a few hours but it will burn the stump down below the ground level and then you can remove the ashes, fill it with loam and throw some grass seed on it.